Washing-machine.



A. P. HOLGOMB. WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION Hum .snmna, 1912.

1,100,240. Patented June 16, 1914.

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ABEL P. HOLCOMB, OF EAST RANDOLPH, NEW YORK.

WASHING-MACHINE.

ciprocating compression member, means whereby the clothes, when acted upon by the compression member, will be rolled upon an axis, thereby presenting different portlons of the clothes successively to the action of the compression member.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby the water, when squeezed out of the clothes by the action of the compression member, will be prevented from spattering about.

Another object of the invention is to provide a washing machine of the type above specified having a novel arrangement of elements whereby the water may pass readily out of the clothes when the same are acted upon by the compression member.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 shows the invention in vertical longitudinal section; Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section upon the line A-B of Fig. 1, looking in the direct-ion of the arrow 2; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section upon the line AB of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow 3; and Fig. 4 is a top plan, parts being broken away.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a tub, preferably of rectangular contour, the tub being supported by legs2, or in any suitable manner. The tub 2,comprises an inclined bottom 8, and an end wall 4 provided at its upper edge and adjacent its ends with notches 5, there being a bead 4 located in the angle defined by the bottom 3 and the end wall 4, the bead 4" constituting a means for supporting theend wall, and for connecting the same with the bot- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 9, 1912.

Patented June 16, 1914.

Serial No. 719,485.

tom, and an end wall 6, the upper edge of which, denoted by the numeral 7, constitutes a wringer support, the end wall 6 being equipped adjacent the lowermost portion of the bottom 8, with a drainage plug 8. The tub 1 also comprises side walls which are indicated by the reference character 9. Located in the angle defined by the wall 6 and by the bottom 3 and extended entirely across the tub 1 is a bead 10 having a concaved face 11. Secured against the wall 6 are a plurality of upright ribs 12, the free edges of which slant inwardly, as shown at 14, so as to overhang the concaved face 11 of the bead 10. Supported by the upper ends of the ribs 12 is a downwardly slanting deflector 15, provided with a depending lip 16 at its free edge, the lip 16 being located beyond the inner edge of the bead 10. The invention further includes a removable top board 17, which is removed when the wringer is in use, the top board 17 being extended transversely of the tub 1, and being mounted terminally in the notches 18 which are fashioned in the upper edges of the side walls 9, adjacent the end wall 6. Fixed to and depending from the free edge of the top board 17, is a lip 18 which is located beyond the lip 16 of the deflector 15. The ends of thelip 18 engage the inner faces of the side walls 9 and serve to prevent the top board 17 from sliding transversely in the notches 18 in which the top board is mounted.

The invention further includes a movable compression member, indicated by the reference character 20, the compression memher being adapted to reciprocate longitudinally of the tub 1, upon the inclined bottom 3. The compressed member 20 comprises side bars 21, having, each, at one end, an enlarged head 21*, the heads 21 being connected by a series of parallel deflecting plates 22. The side bars 21, extend beyond the wall 4 and are connected by ahandle 23. Extended longitudinally of the side bars 21 are links 24, the forward ends of which are connected by pivot elements 25, to the side bars 21. In order to accommodate larger or smaller quantities of clothes, there are a plurality of openings 25 in the links 24, in any of which openings the pivot elements 25 may be mounted. The links 24 at their rear ends are downwardly curved as indicated at 26, the curved ends 26 of the the end wall t. The extremities of the portions 26 of the links are pivotally connected to the side walls 9, as indicated at 27 In practical operation, the handle 23 of the compression member 20 is manually operated to impart reciprocating motion to the compression member20, the operative end of the compression member sliding to and fro upon the slanted bottom 3, the links 24 swinging with the points 25 and 27 as centers of swinging movement. hen the foregoing operation takes place, the garments which are within the tub 1 will be compressed between the deflecting plates 22 of the compression member 20 and the ribs 12.

In a device of this type considerable difficulty has been experienced hitherto by reason of the fact that the garments, when sub jected to the action of the movable member 20 have been pressed merely, there being no rotatory movement imparted to the garments. As a consequence, the same portions of the garments remain in engagement with the compression member, and a thorough cleansing has not resulted. In the present device, however, owing to the concav-ed face 11 of the bead 10, the garments will be rotated, when the compression member 20 is operated. Rot-atory movement, further, will be facilitated by reason of the fact that the edges 1% of the ribs 12 slant inwardly and overhang the concaved face 11 of the bead 10. The rotatory movement of the clothes is enhanced by reason of the fact that the lower plate 22 first slides fiat along the bottom 3, all of the plates swinging upwardly, with the angle in the lower face of the compression member as a fulcrum, as the compression member approaches the end of its stroke. See Fig. 1. The clothes, therefore, will not merely be compressed, but will be compressed and be rotated when the compressed member 20 is actuated.

It is obviously desirable that when the garments are compressed, the water which is within the garments should be free to flow therefrom. In this connection, it is to be noted that water at one side of the roll of garments will be free to flow upwardly between the spaced ribs 12, the water at the other side of the roll of garments flowing rearwardly between the deflector plates 22 of the movable compression member 20. Then the water flows upwardly between the ribs 12, the water will be engaged by the deflecting member 15, the member 15 together with the lip 16 serving to direct. the water toward the slanted bottom 3 of the tub. Should any water spurt out beyond the lip 16 of the deflector 15, the water will be engaged by the lip 18 of the top board 17.

Referring to Fig. 1 it will be noted that when the movable compression member 20 is thrust forwardly, the deflecting plates 22 will have a compound motion, the plates 22 moving in the direction of the arrow X parallel to the bottom 3. At the same time, owing to the fact that the compression member 20 is connected with the tub I by means of the links 24, the rear edges of the deflecting plates 22 will swing downwardly as indicated by the arrow Y in Fig. 1. Owing to this last mentioned movement, the water which is passing between the deflecting plates 22 will be directed downwardly toward the bottom 3, and will not spurt upwardly.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is In a washing machine, a tub including side walls, a bottom and end walls; a compression member including a pair of side bars, a handle connecting the side bars, and a pressure head uniting the side bars; the side bars being straight and lying in engagement with the inner faces of the side walls, thereby to guide the compression member as the same reciprocates; links located on the inner, adjacent faces of the side bars; primary pivot elements connecting the links with the side bars; and second ary pivot elements connecting the links with the side walls of the tub, outside of one end wall, the said end wall acting as a stop for the side bars, and the outer ends of the links being downwardly curved, thereby to position the secondary pivot elements below the upper edge of said end wall and to permit the secondary pivot elements to pass beneath the end bars and engage the side walls.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ABEL P. HOLCOWB.

7 T. E. SEARLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0. 

